Deputies seize $29,000 after I-85 traffic stop

Published: Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 10:48 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 10:48 a.m.

Deputies with the Davidson County Sheriff's Office seized $29,000 from a vehicle after a traffic stop Tuesday evening.

About 5:30 p.m., members of the Davidson County Sheriff's Office Interstate Criminal Enforcement Unit stopped a 2005 Dodge truck on Interstate 85 South at mile marker 91 in Lexington for a traffic violation (impeding the flow of traffic).

According to a news release from the sheriff's office, the vehicle displayed California registration and was driven by Dennie Andy Keophimanh, 26, of Grand Prairie, Texas. During the course of the traffic stop, deputies conducted a K-9 scan of the vehicle and received a positive alert for the presence of the odor of narcotics.

Deputies then conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and located three separate bags containing 15 bundles of United States currency in rubber bands.

The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, Keophimanh, denied ownership of the currency but did admit to recently smoking marijuana in his vehicle with a friend, the news release stated. The currency was seized pending further investigation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

A total of $29,000 was seized from the vehicle. Keophimanh was issued a written warning for the traffic violation and released.

<p>Deputies with the Davidson County Sheriff's Office seized $29,000 from a vehicle after a traffic stop Tuesday evening.</p><p>About 5:30 p.m., members of the Davidson County Sheriff's Office Interstate Criminal Enforcement Unit stopped a 2005 Dodge truck on Interstate 85 South at mile marker 91 in Lexington for a traffic violation (impeding the flow of traffic). </p><p>According to a news release from the sheriff's office, the vehicle displayed California registration and was driven by Dennie Andy Keophimanh, 26, of Grand Prairie, Texas. During the course of the traffic stop, deputies conducted a K-9 scan of the vehicle and received a positive alert for the presence of the odor of narcotics. </p><p>Deputies then conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and located three separate bags containing 15 bundles of United States currency in rubber bands. </p><p>The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, Keophimanh, denied ownership of the currency but did admit to recently smoking marijuana in his vehicle with a friend, the news release stated. The currency was seized pending further investigation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. </p><p>A total of $29,000 was seized from the vehicle. Keophimanh was issued a written warning for the traffic violation and released.</p>